Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, August 8, 2006

"The school is coming along great," said Jeff Windsor, director of planning and construction for the district. "The infrastructure, which includes the library, cafeteria and administration areas, is complete."

Two of the three learning towers will be ready when school starts. Construction on the medical tower should be finished before Oct. 1, Windsor said.

"Since it faces Spring-Cypress Road, it's the most visible tower," he said. "We're working like a bunch of ants to get it finished."

Until it's ready, part of the old Salyers Elementary School and some of its portable buildings will be used for instruction, he said.

The high school, 900 Wunsche Loop at Spring-Cypress Road, is being built on the site that formerly housed Carl G. Wunsche School (for technology) and the old Salyers school.

The towers were named based on their areas of study.

Students studying topics such as law, business and finance will be taught in the professional tower. The technology tower will educate students in various technical fields, including software engineering and computer maintenance. Finally, the medical tower will be the locale for nursing, dental and other medical studies.

Wunsche High will integrate academics with career programs and college preparation for 10th- through 12th-graders.

Principal Debi Koch said three orientation sessions will be used to introduce the 1,500 students to the school. One was held Aug. 9 — for those in professional studies — and the other two are scheduled for Friday.

Technology students will visit from 8-11 a.m. and those in medical fields will be orientated from 1-4 p.m., Koch said.

Students will receive materials and a list of expectations.

"We'll talk about potential internships," she said. "Students will also get a tour of the building, so on the first day of school, they'll know where to go."

Buses will pick up the students for the orientation and drop them off afterwards.

"It's kind of like a trial run," Koch said.

Mary Lou Schouweiler, director of professional learning experiences for the district, said she is in charge of securing business partnerships and establishing internships.

Some of the roles of local businesses will include providing guest speakers and developing focus groups.

Business partners will set up mock job interviews to teach students interviewing skills.